Meet Loise Machira: The first Global Wellness Day Ambassador for Kenya

There still seems to be some confusion around wellness – what is wellness and what does it entail?

Wellness is a conscious and deliberate process of daily choices that improve your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

What sparked Tizi Talks?

I became intrigued while at university. After my classes or on weekends, I would do a lot of reading on what wellness entailed. The first time I joined a gym was when I was 18 but I did not understand how it all worked especially the nutrition part. The more I became active; I noticed significant changes not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.  

Since I could not afford to hire a trainer and a nutritionist, I educated myself on all things healthy living. At some point, I enrolled in a fitness and nutrition course to expand my knowledge of wellness. 

Although I did not complete the course, I learnt a great deal. Little did I know that a few years down the line, I would be pursuing this line as a career. I became the go-to person on matters health and fitness among my circle of family and friends, to a point I felt like I was always repeating myself on the health tips. So I decided to start a blog in 2015 where people could readily get these tips but l took a hiatus after some time. In 2017, after persistence from my sister, I resumed blogging 

Tell us more about Tizi Talks

Tizi Talks is a wellness blog that inspires a culture of enjoyable healthy living while showcasing the relationship between wellness, happiness and success. The blog is the editorial arm of my wellness brand called Tizi that I am currently working on to incorporate other aspects of wellness like food, fitness and travel.

Through the growth of the content, I decided to create segments that touch on each pillar of wellness from physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

What is your typical day like?

I currently have an 8-5 job, so my weekdays are standard. I am in the gym at 5.45 am and try to go to bed by 10 pm. When I get home in the evening, I always review my site and plan my content for the week or month.

I try out new gyms on Saturday morning and practice yoga on Sunday morning. After that, I spend the rest of the weekend researching, gathering content and writing newsletters on wellness.

The second Saturday of June is now recognized as Global Wellness Day. How do you feel about that?

Words cannot express how delighted I am for this day to be recognized globally! On this day, hundreds of thousands of participants in over 100 countries take time to reflect on how we can live a healthier and happier life. I am happy that Kenya was part of this life-changing conversation.

As wellness ambassador in Kenya for this day, what did you have planned for the big day?

I curated a wellness programme tailored to capture elements of both physical health and inner health through a host of activities that were free of charge. We conducted be wellness checks, mental health consultations, group yoga and Zumba, and two-panel discussions.

Do you think there is enough awareness about wellness in Kenya?

No, but I believe we are taking great strides to make it an important conversation. We still have a long way to go.

If you were not pursuing wellness, what would you be doing?

One thing most people do not know about me is that I love cooking. I enjoy trying out new recipes and making meals for my family. Therefore, I would probably enrol in a culinary school and heighten my cooking skills.